Waterholes

[gjs4]

After another stellar year of drought and rock hard redclay...ive decided to kick the rain gods in the taint and add a bunch more water tubs/holes. Has anyone had any luck with TSC stock tanks or have a better suggestion? How about orientation on a property for best use?

 

[Gern186]

I bought a 50 gallon landscape tank from menards and buried it flush. Drew in a lot of wildlife this fall.

 

[Gern186]

 

[Sgt Fury]

I put one of these about 150 yards behind my house, connected a bunch of 100’ garden hoses and secured the hose to the top. Ran it to a spigot and fill it when needed. If it’s not close, you can haul water there with a quad. Be sure to place a tree branch in it for the mice, chipmunks ect., that will fall into it. Not a good feeling walking up to it after a couple weeks in the summer and seeing a decomposing carcass at the bottom.

 

[Big_Holla]

I bought a 50 gallon landscape tank from menards and buried it flush. Drew in a lot of wildlife this fall.

Curious how often you had to fill that before it ran dry, if it did go dry that is?

 

[bowhunter1023]

I this is on my To-Do List at the farm this year. I'd like to add water to the ridges in 2 spots. I suspect I'd see some great return on my investment.

 

[LonewolfNopack]

Besides maybe in extreme drought years, water is very rarely the "limiting factor" for a property to hold deer in Ohio. My only suggestion is that if you are going to bury any type of tank, please consider placing getaway rocks or wood so the small critters can get out once they fall in. Those plastic straight wall sides full of water at the bottom are a death pit for small critters, and not only can it kill them unnecessarily but also leaves a stinky cess pool for deer to drink from.

 

[at1010]

I agree with @LonewolfNopack here! Deer get like 80% of their water needs from green forage in the growing season. Although adding a water tank isn’t a bad idea - it would be way down on my list of tasks. I’d be looking at timber mgt first and foremost. I’d also consider planting foodplots in ways that put you in a better position against drought - if you want to move the needle on reduce stress on your local deer herd during drought periods.

if all the above is done and you want to add some water - go for it but definitely give small critters a place to escape.

 

[xbowguy]

I can honestly say this must work. We tracked several deer this year that were shot at home made water holes.

 

[bowhunter1023]

For me, it's a simple task given the equipment I have on hand, so it's a minimal investment to add another amenity to one of my manicure locations. We have a pond, so water isn't a huge need, but I have old stock tanks at my disposal, so why not?